02-17-2013, 07:15 PM
As a two game set, the team showed good progress again this weekend in lessons learned since December. Team members are making plays and taking shots now that they wouldn't earlier (it was all Chiney all the time then). Even against some tougher competition this weekend, they were still mostly aggressively decisive.
The open 3 taken often leads to something else good, even if missed. But trying to jam everything to Chiney earlier in the season led to a stagnant offense and more turnovers.
I'm happy to see more of the team just playing with purpose. This is a team that will just have to play thru whatever comes. It may not always look pretty like some other Stanford teams. I like that they are now grinding it out, no matter how it looks or what it takes. More than some other teams, everyone's contribution counts in the final result. So comical to hear some weeks back a player say 11 points scored is to many. NO IT ISN'T. If they leave you open and you can score 30, put the ball in the basket and score 30.
Playing at Stanford gives players a national stage upon which to be noticed. I would not have projected Jeanette Pohlen into the WNBA in her first two years. Pohlen played well over those years, but it was a couple major moments that showcased her professional potential: 4 seconds to dribble full length of the court to score and scoring 31 on Uconn (performing better than Nneka and Maya that night).
[No, you don't force up shots to achieve that, but if it comes your way and you are "ON" that night, don't run from the moment either. Be a basketball player first, with some role emphasis as second. Make the plays that help your team (I'm seeing more of that)]
A lot of the Stan players still have more in them than they are bringing to the court. Just look at shoot-around as one example. Many perimeter shooters hardly ever miss. But in the game, more misses (figure it out and get more consistent in games).
More rebounds to get, getting stronger, working on skills (ball handling, footwork, ...). Part of the fun is that there is always more to do get better -- if you want the challenge. The team has made very respectable progress, and needs to continue to work on it and refine it.
The open 3 taken often leads to something else good, even if missed. But trying to jam everything to Chiney earlier in the season led to a stagnant offense and more turnovers.
I'm happy to see more of the team just playing with purpose. This is a team that will just have to play thru whatever comes. It may not always look pretty like some other Stanford teams. I like that they are now grinding it out, no matter how it looks or what it takes. More than some other teams, everyone's contribution counts in the final result. So comical to hear some weeks back a player say 11 points scored is to many. NO IT ISN'T. If they leave you open and you can score 30, put the ball in the basket and score 30.
Playing at Stanford gives players a national stage upon which to be noticed. I would not have projected Jeanette Pohlen into the WNBA in her first two years. Pohlen played well over those years, but it was a couple major moments that showcased her professional potential: 4 seconds to dribble full length of the court to score and scoring 31 on Uconn (performing better than Nneka and Maya that night).
[No, you don't force up shots to achieve that, but if it comes your way and you are "ON" that night, don't run from the moment either. Be a basketball player first, with some role emphasis as second. Make the plays that help your team (I'm seeing more of that)]
A lot of the Stan players still have more in them than they are bringing to the court. Just look at shoot-around as one example. Many perimeter shooters hardly ever miss. But in the game, more misses (figure it out and get more consistent in games).
More rebounds to get, getting stronger, working on skills (ball handling, footwork, ...). Part of the fun is that there is always more to do get better -- if you want the challenge. The team has made very respectable progress, and needs to continue to work on it and refine it.